RxMan

Change your filter!

AEMAXIMA01

iTrader: (3)

Nasty! Definitely worth the change.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

One of these years I'll get around to changing mine.

Stormzusmc

iTrader: (17)

doing mine this weekend!

VQP0WER

88k miles and mines still original. I just keep forgetting about it.

RxMan

It's just so damn difficult to get to for something that can't really damage your car.

vQmaxii

oo man

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

I shall be changing both of mine pretty soon after seeing that. My '96 has never had it changed and it has 218K.

Parthur

I need help, I've tried to remove the glove box to get to the filter but I can't remove it, I took the screws out but still does not move. What I am missing?? I guess my filter is the same or worse than the one on the picture. I know there is a couple of DYI on this and I have seen the pictures, but I can't remove it.
experts please help.

RxMan

There are six total screws (all philips head). Two of the screws hold the latch itself on. The other 4 are in the corners. What is a little confusing is you would think you could just take the "drawer" part out but that's not the case. The whole section has to be removed. Drawer and panel it's attached to. If you can find the other 4 screws that are identical to the 2 holding the latch on, your good. Don't forget to unhook the 2 wires behind the latch.

unrealii

iTrader: (8)

Last time I changed my air filter, I had to remove the side door trim on the passenger side because my glove box wasn't going in. I spent 30 mins trying to get it in, then spent half a min to remove the trim and it went it.

Also, dont unhook those yellow wires, just unclip them from the glovebox assembly.

RxMan

What he said. Sorry, what I said was misleading about the wires. Two black clips hold the yellow wires to the glove box. Pinch them to allow removal.

Nelsito65

Wow!!!....Looks like that filter was doing its job!!!...
My 2000 maxima does not have any cabin filter-related labels in the glove compartment, so there is none installed, as it was an option on 00-01 models. I'll be ordering one soon. It will probably help me fight my seasonal allergies.

Wildcat_Max

Its worth having a filter in there if you haven't got one. No more smell or dried leaves noise

321VQ35MAX

iTrader: (6)

Does a 96 have one? I changed mine after 40k miles and it was HORRIBLE!

nissandrvr98

iTrader: (3)

117K-and all original. i should prolly do mine too-
its gotta be good for a few hp

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

not as bad as i thought for 200k it probably ran out of room to trap big stuff a long time ago though. Was there any junk piled up at the incoming side of the filter?

FlipCpt45

iTrader: (6)

uh oh.. you potentially just set off a couple of SES airbag lights just for telling them to disconnect the yellow wire

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

my 1994 BMW 325's filter with 170k miles was way worse. lol. The frame pretty much crumbled apart when I took it out, and I had a pile of leaves/sticks/etc. about 6 inches in diameter on my carpet after I took it out.

I need to do this for my maxima, but the damn filter is so expensive.

Parthur

Thanks a lot Rxman and unrealii I'll follow your advice and report back on monday I am planning on doing it during the weekend!! Good people here!!!

Nelsito65

What's shown on the picture is the incoming side.

Maxgig

iTrader: (5)

I just changed mine for the 2nd time since I've owned the car just this morning. My original filter was a one piece like the one RxMan put 200k on. I ordered my new one from DaveB and it came as two pieces. You remove a total of 6 philips head screws and please, please "DO NOT UNPLUG THE YELLOW AIRBAG SWITCH". Lastly, you may want to stick your shop vac hose in there to clean out some of the crap that gets left behind.

What I got from DaveB: a genuine Nissan filter part #999M1 - VP004

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

By not changing the in cabin air filter could that be a culprit to make the blower motor go?

Maxgig

iTrader: (5)

I would say its possible but highly unlikely.

CVicVogel

In addition to straining your blower motor....you could have mold or other bacteria lodged in there that could give you an upper respiratory infection.

If they get wet...you could develop mold, too. That stuff can get nasty real fast.

If you smoke and use "recirculate", you have a ton of cigarette smoke lodged in your HVAC system.

Finally...ever why your car smells old and musty??? Changing the filter & cleaning out the chamber might help.

I change mine every 40,000..and should do it 30,000. I procrastinate.

Vic

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

boy, I'm glad I don't have one and have to worry about all of this stuff.

maximal01

ya i should look into that its one more of many things that need done

nsnrider

iTrader: (59)

4th gens don't have an in cabin air filter, FYI.

Nelsito65

Your nose and that of those who ride your car attempt to do the work for the missing filter. My car didn't come with one either untill I put one last night. I found a good amount of dirt and dried small leaves sitting in there, only because they were too big to go through the fins of the condenser. Smaller particles have been passing though it and I have been breathing that.

Ray Torres

I guess i need to see if mine has ever been changed lol.

gold4dsc

i found out my 00se didn't come with that does anyone have a price on the part or can u get one from autozone or something. i know when i pulled out the heater core and changed it i found all kinds of leaves sticks and other crap lodged in to that compartment. and with my n my allergies i might wanna invest in one so i can breath better and help the car smell better

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

I know its the incoming side, but i have seen cabin filters with 30k on them that have had as much crap in them. I was wondering if there was a pile of junk (not in the filter) that was just sitting there because the filter had maxed out its ability to hold debris.

Progress

iTrader: (26)

I could be wrong, but I think it's a dealer part.

Progress

iTrader: (26)

You're welcome:

http://www.shiftice.com/cabin_filter.html

hdortez

Maybe I should invest in a new filter. The car has had a distant but present funk since I got it. Post detailing and a bottle of freshener later it is still there. How much are they? do they have any Arm & Hammer ones?

CoolMax

iTrader: (7)

febreeze it

sublime258

iTrader: (9)

I changed my filter in my '02 last Summer. If you are debating on whether or not it's a good idea to invest in a new cabin microfilter, just do it. You won't believe how much debris gets caught in that thing, especially leaves. Like the above poster said, make sure you have a shop vac or something ready, because there will be a bunch of crap left behind after you pull out, and if you don't get that stuff out, it will blow around and make annoying noises. But yea, this should be replaced at least every few years. Mine looked like it hadn't ever been replaced and it was worse than the OP's.

Nelsito65

Got it. I misunderstood your question.

After checking prices at Amazon.com, Autozone and Advance Autoparts, I got mine at the latter. They all have the same part number (Beck Arnley 042-2038 Cabin Air Filter). $35 and some change out the door.

Nelsito65

After removing all six screws, the whole assembly is still held in place by two pawls on the upper left and left side, and also a metal clip on the upper right side. I found out that it was easier if I firmly pulled, towards me, the left side first and then the right one to release the metal clip. Drop down the whole assembly just enough to have room to release the yellow connector from the assembly (DO NOT disconnect those plugs; use needle nose pliers to pinch the two pins and push them out). Also, remove the compartment light by twisting counterclockwise. After that, you can set the whole assembly apart. You'll see the filter housing cover. Remove the metal clip at the bottom, slide up and remove cover.

klemenz

Lol when I saw the thread title I was expecting something much worse.

still nasty though my car smells like *** i think i'm gonna change that next time i get it serviced..